Building construction



April 29, 1947. E. w. MARTEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 29, 1947. w, MARTEN 2,419,843

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,419,843 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Elmer W. Marten, Seattle, Wash. Application December 9, 1944. Serial No. 567,486

14 Claims.

My invention relates to a precast building construction.

An object of my invention is to provide a building construction wherein all elements includin pillars, arch beams, purlins and roof structure are all in the'form of precast units which may be formed on the site of the construction or in a central Plant.

Another object is to provide a building construction of this character, which is capable of extremely quick erection with virtually no tools except means to lift the which may be readily and quickly erected by unskilled or semi-skilled workers. A further object is to provide a building construction which may be employed as a permanent or temporary building, in the first instancerthe building construction having, inherently, a low depreciation factor; in the latter instance the various units being readily dismantled, then readily transported and reassembled on other sites.

A further object is to provide a building construction which incorporates novel precast purlin or rafter units and connecting means between the purlin units and their supporting arches.

Further objects hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an eificient building construction. A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

of the invention will appear units into place, and

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the purlin members and showing the manner in which they are joined in end-to-end relation. 5

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through 7-1 of Fig. 1, showing the manner of cross bracing between rows of arch units. 1

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view of a modified form of my arch members arranged to form a fiat surface for supportingan upper floor. r.

With reference to Fig. 1, foundation piers I are appropriately located to support arch members 2. Each arch member is substantially Y-shaped, forming a pier leg 3 and a pair of arch legs 4 defining an obtuse angle. Each arch member is formed of precast concrete with suitably DQSitioned reinforcing rods therein. The lower end of'each pier leg is rounded as indicated by 5, to seat or anchor in sockets 6 provided in the foundation-piers 1. Each Y-shaped arch member is provided with arch hinge reinforcing! molded in the extremity of each arch leg 4, as shown in Fig. 2. The reinforcing of adjacent arch members overlaps and receives a common hinge pin 8. The reinforcing 1 protrudes from their arch legs so that when the arches are joined. there is a space to insert the pins 8. This space is afterwards closed by grouting 4a.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional ew of my building construction showing one of the arch units complete and Portions of adjacent arches.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 2-2 of Fig. 1, with a portion of the concrete broken away to illustrate the manner in which the arch members are joined. 1 Fig.3 is a fragmentary plan view of theroof slabs. V e V Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roof slabs viewedfrom their under sides.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the purlins and arch memhers, the roof slabs, however, being omitted.

The upper side of each arch leg 4 is straight, and slopes upwardly from the pier leg 3. Molded on this upper side are several purlin shoulders 9. The side of each shoulder facing toward the upper end or extremity of the arch leg 4 isdisposed at right angles to the upper surface of the arch.

precast concrete beams containing reinforcing and are rectangular in cross-section. They are adapted to rest on the upper sides of the arch legs l'and abut the shoulders 9. The shoulders reach of gravity of the purlin units,,

reinforcing angle iron member purlin unit is provided with a recess l2 which accommodates the projecting angle member of the adjacent purlin unit so that the units may be disposed in end-to-end relation. Junctures between adjacent purlin units are located over the arch members as shown in Fig. 5. The reinforcing angle members I I are provided with pairs of depending lugs l3 which overhang the sides of the arch legs 4. As shown in Fig. '7, cross bracing 3| in the form of tension members, draws the rows of ends toward each other and causes the lugs l3 to bear against the sides of the arch members and place the purlin members under compression.

At the plane of abutment of two arch members, their respective arch legs 4 join in obtuse angular relation. It is preferred tioned adjacent thereto be L-shapedin crosssection, to form laterally extending legs l5 which abut each other along their extremities, which that the purlins llaposiextremities coincide with the juncture between I the arch legs 4. The upright portions of the purlin units 14 are similar in cross-section to the purlin units ID. The pairs of purlin unit l4 define a V-shaped trough in which is fitted a series of gutter slabs N5, the under sides of which conform to the legs of the purlin units l4 and the upper sides of which form a gutter channel.

The purlin units l0 and 14 are covered by pan roof slabs I! and cover roof slabs l8. The roof slabs are fiat with slightly tapering sides along which are provided side flanges l9 and 20. The pan roof slabs l1 and cover roof slabs I8 may be identical in shape and size, except that the pan roof slabs are providedat their wider or upper ends with depending retainer lugs 2|. The lugs 2| may extend the entire width of the pan roof slabs, or may occupy only portions thereof. The

roof slabs are formed of precast reinforced concrete and theconvergence of the flanged sides is such that the smaller end of each slab may telescope partially in the larger end of the adjacent slab. The pan roof slabs I! are placed so that the lugs 21 overhang the purlin units In so that th upper pan roof slab drains into the lower, that is, the wider ends of the pan roof slabs are uppermost. The cover 'roof slabs l8 are positioned with their wider ends downward, and telescope into each other as do .the pan roof-slabs. When the roof slabs are assembled, mastic or other suitable sealing material is placed between the :joints. A narrow ridge covering. plate 22 extends over and between the upper margins of the roof slabs of adjacent archmembers.

With reference to Fig. 8, the arch construction 4i herein illustrated, is essentially the same as the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 7, in that it comprises a piermember 42 and arch arms 43. In this eonstruction,'however, the upper .faces of the arch arms 43 are horizontal so that when the arches are joined end-to-end a flat surface is provided for the supportof floor structure. With this arrangement continuous reinforcing 44 may extend from end-.to-end .of the crossmembers. The arches are joined by the means shown in Fig.2.

All of the elements which comprise the building construction are capable of being precast so that the assembly involves little more than placing theelements in position. Very few'tool-sare required, although a, crane is desirable to liftthe archmembers into position. Once assembled an extremelyrigid structure is provided. Thestructure may be permanent, or if desired, used temobtuse peaks and valleys,

3 eachpurlin unit their extremities porarily and disassembled for transportation and reassembly at a new site.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A building construction, comprising: arch members including column elements seated at their base ends and upwardly and laterally directed arch elements connected at their extremities with the arch elements of adjacent arch members,.and abutment shoulders disposed in spaced relation along the upper side of said arch elements, said arch members arranged in parallel rows; purlin units connecting parallel disposed arch members and adapted to lay against the sides of said abutment shoulders,

.each .purlin unit including reinforcing members projecting from its ends adapted to fit into the ends or other purlin units when said purlin units are disposed in end-to-end relation, said reinforcing members having means adapted to overhang the sides of said arch elements to restrain said purlin units against end movement relative tosaid archmembers.

2. A precastbuilding construction, comprising: similar precast arch members each including a column element adapted to be anchored 'at'its lower extremity, andat least one arch'element adapted to be pivotally connected to the arch element of an adjacent arch member,.-said xarch members arranged in parallel rows; precast purlin members extending between and connecting parallel disposed arch members; reinforcing member anchoredin'the extremities of said purlin members and protruding therebeyond, said purlin members havingrecesses moldedin to receive the reinforcing members of abutting purlin members whereby said purlin members may extend inend-to-end relation across several arch members; and means depending from said reinforcing members adapted to overhang the sides of said arch elements to restrain said purlin members against end movement relative thereto.

3. A building construction, comprising: arch members adapted to define a series of alternate there being integral shoulder elements along the sloping upper sides of said arch members; purlin units'connecting parallel disposed arch members and adapted to lay against the sides of said abutment shoulders, including reinforcing members projecting from its ends "adapted to fit'intothe ends of other purlin units when said purlin units are disposed in end-to-end relation, said reinforcing members having means adapted to overhang the sides of said arch elements to restrain said purlin units against end movement relative to said arch members.

4. A building construction, comprising: arch members including upwardly and laterallydirected arms connected at their extremities 'to' define a series of peaks and valleys; precast purlin members extending between andconnecting parallel disposed arch members: reinforcing members anchored in the extremities of fsaid purlin members and protruding therebeyond', said across several arch members; and means-depend ing from said reinforcing members adapted'to overhang the sides of said arch elements to restrain said purlin members against end movement relative thereto.

5. A building construction, cast arch members arranged in parallel rows and defining a series of alternate obtuse peaks and valleys; preca t L-shaped valley purlins disposed along said valleys with their leg members confronting to define a gutter base; precast troughshaped gutter members laid along said gutter base, other precast purlin members of rectangu lar cross-section disposed in parallel relationon the slopes of said arch members; abutment shoulders molded integrally along the upper sides of said arch members to engage the valley facing sides of said purlin members and extending above their centers of gravity whereby said purlin members rest in stable equilibrium on said arch members, and precast pan and cover slabs positioned across said purlin members and said L-shaped purlins from said peaks to said valleys and adapted to drain into said gutter members.

6. A building construction, comprising: precast arch members arranged in parallel rows and each including, integrally, a central column and upwardly and laterally directed arms; journal elements at the extremities of said arms and said column, the arms being joined end-to-end by their journal elements to form alternate peaks and valleys, abutment shoulders molded in spaced relation along the upper sides of said arms; precast purlin members of rectangular cross-section extending between the rows of said arch members and adapted to rest on edge upon said arms and against said shoulders, said shoulders extending above the mid points of said purlin members whereby said purlin members rest in stable equilibrium; a foundation element for each arch member, including journal means mating the journal element of the corresponding column for pivotally supporting its corresponding arch member.

7. A building construction, comprising: precast arch members arranged in parallel rows and defining a series of alternate obtuse peaks and valleys; precast L-shaped valley purlins disposed along said valleys with their leg (members confronting to define a gutter base; precast troughshaped gutter members laid along said gutter base, other precast purlin members of rectangular cross-section disposed in parallel relation on the slopes of said arch members; abutment shoulders molded integrally along the upper sides of said arch members to engage the valley facing sides of said purlin members and extending above their comprising: precenters of gravity whereby said purlin members rest in stable equilibrium on said arch members, and precast pan and cover slabs positioned across said purlin members and said L-shaped purlins from said peaks to said valleys and adapted to drain into said gutter members; rein-forcing elements protruding from the ends of said purlin members, said purlin elements having recesses molded therein to receive the reinforcing elements of other purlin members positioned in end-to-end relation therewith, said reinforcing elements equipped with depending devices adapted to fit over the arms of said arch members to limit said purlin members against end movement relative to said arch members.

8. A building construction, comprising: precast arch members arranged in parallel rows and including upwardly and laterally directed arms joined to form alternate peaks and valleys, abutment shoulders molded in spaced relation along the upper sides of said arms; precast purlin memlimit said purlin members against end movement relative to said arch members,

9. A precast building construction, comprising: a plurality of precast arch units arranged in rows and each arch unit including a column member and laterally directed arch arms, terminating in journal elements defining the corners of a symmetrical triangle with the apex thereof directed downwardly, the arms of said arch members being pivotally joined in end-to-end relation to form said rows; a series of integral abutment shoulders along the upper side of each of said arch arms; and precast purlin members extending between the rows of said arch members and resting against said shoulders; a foundation member for each arch unit, each foundation member including a journal element coacting with the journal element at the extremity of the column member of the corresponding arch unit.

10. A precast building construction, comprising: a plurality of precast arch units arranged in rows and each arch unit including a column member and laterally directed arch arms, and a series of integral abutment shoulders along the upper side of said arch arms; precast purlin members extending between the rows of said arch members and resting against said shoulders; means for interlocking said purlin members in end-to-end relation; and means for securing said purlin members and arch arms together against relative movement along the longitudinal axes of said purlin members.

11. A building construction, comprising: a plurality of precast arch members, each arch member including, integrally, a downwardly tapering column and laterally directed tapered arms; journal elements at the extremities of said arms and said column; said arch members adapted to be pivotally connected end-to-end by the journal elements at the extremities of said arms; foundation members adapted to support said columns, each foundation member including a mating journal element cooperating with the journal elements of the correspondin columns to afford pivotal support for said arch members.

12. A building construction, comprising: a, plurality of precast arch members, the extremities of each arch member defining the apexes of a triangle symmetrical about a vertical axis with one apex directed downward; journal elements at each of the apexes defining extremities of said arch member; a foundation member supporting each arch member by its downwardly directed extremity, each foundation member including a journal element mating with the journal element of said extremity to afford pivotal support for said arch member; the remaining extremities of said arch members adapted to be pivotally connected together in end-to-end relationship.

13. A construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said arch members are arranged in rows and :the laterally directed arms thereof include purlinspacing. means; and wherein precast purlin members extend between said rows of arch members and fitting said spacing means.

14. A construction as set forth in claim 12 wherein said arch members are arranged in rows and each arch member defines purlin supporting surfaces extending between its lateral extremities; wherein purlin spacing means are incorporated in said supporting surfaces; and wherein purlin members extend between said rows of arch members and coact with said spacing means.

ELMER W. MAR'I'EN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,197,716 Dingman Sept. 12, 1916 1,534,175 Freund Apr. 21,1925 1,570,839 Joaquin Jan. 26, 1926 2332,059 Cheshier Oct. 19, I943 FOREIGN PATENTS 19 Number Country Date 257,778 German 1913 133,812 British 1919 OTHER REFERENCES Pages 43-45 of The Architectural Record," January 1936. 

